CAF CL: Mwape scores as Zesco pick vital away point in Angola

Primeiro de Agosto 1- 1 Zesco United (Mabululo 9′ | Mwape 16′)

Zesco United picked a vital away point on match day one of the CAF Champions League when they drew 1 – 1 with Primeiro de Agosto of Angola.

It was a tightly contested match with the hosts looking sharp in the opening exchanges and their efforts paid off when Ary Papel beat Simon Silwimba and skinned Kondwani Mtonga to send in a hard cross that Adrian Chama missed for the ball to fall kindly to Mabululo who beat Jacob Banda in the 9th minute.

Zesco responded well to the setback and were looking the better side from the on. Winstone Kalengo and Thabani Kumushoko were leading the resurgence and this paid off defender Clement Mwape finishing off from a Kamushoko corner in the 16th minute.

It was all Zesco from then on and they came close again in the 24th minute when Mwila Phiri’s in-swinging free kick from the right was deflected but the keeper was in a good position to save.

The table turned after the restart and this time the hosts were taking the game to the visitors. Jesse Were cleared off the line in the 56th minute to keep Zesco in the game.

The George Lwandamina were seemingly finding it difficulty to drive out of their own half and they increasingly sat back to protect the point.

They were looking threatening on the counter attack with only Quadri Kola left upfront could have taken the lead in the 86th minute when Adrian Chama found the target with a strong shot which the keeper spilled but collected on second try.

In the end both teams settled for a point.

TP Mazembe who earlier in the day beat Zamalek 3 – 0 lead the group on 3 points while Zesco and Primeiro de Agosto have a point each. The Egyptians are bottom of the group with no point.

Winston Kalengo was doing well with Zambia National team. What happened to him. ..instead of trying out inexperienced players like Shonga why not use players that are tried and tested. Have a system in place…look at other National teams some players are there for 10 years
Lewandowski, Sergio Ramos, …yet in Zambia you just chop a player after 6months…which shows the initial selection to national team has no system.